This book is available as open access through the Bloomsbury Open Access programme and is available on www.bloomsburycollections.com. Griffiths, Kippin and Stoker bring together many of the country's leading academic and policy experts to explore the long-term challenges facing public services, and ask what the role of government, citizens and society should be in addressing them. The book sets out a new reform agenda, exploring possibilities for the future design and delivery of public services in the UK and beyond. Public Services: A New Reform Agenda is an important new contribution to the debate that will be invaluable for policymakers, practitioners and academics.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been widely derided as a failed state, unable to meet the basic needs of its citizens. But while state infrastructure continues to decay, many essential services continue to be provided at the local level, often through grassroots initiatives. So while, for example, state funding for education is almost non-existent, average school enrolment remains well above average for Sub-Saharan Africa. This book addresses this paradox, bringing together key scholars working on public services in the DRC to elucidate the evolving nature of governance in developing countries. Its contributions encompass a wide range of public services, including education, justice, transport, and health. Taking stock of what functions and why, it contributes to the debate on public services in the context of 'real' or 'hybrid' governance beyond the state: does the state still have a function, or is it no longer useful and relevant? Crucially, how does international aid help or complicate this picture? Rich in empirical detail, the contributors provide a valuable work for students and scholars interested in the role played by non-state actors in organizing statehood - a role too often neglected in debates on post-conflict reconstruction.

A lively and challenging collection of writings by those at the very heart of the Probation Service for 50-years. Complete with descriptions of life at all levels of what has been described as the 'jewel in the crown' of criminal justice. Moral and other challenges are presented alongside those of standing-up to government Ministers whose aspirations for 'political immortality' have led to profound tensions. The book describes how tough talk and market-strategies have undermined 100-years of devoted public service and ideas about how best to help change the lives of some of the most marginalised people in society. Equality, race and social deprivation are amongst the issues explored as the ethos of probation and its deeply-rooted values are laid bare in a book that deals with highs and lows, hazards, innovation, hopes, aims and the international influence of an organization whose original mission (not always popular) was to 'advise, assist and befriend' those otherwise heading for prison and a life of crime.Colourful and highly readable, The Golden Age of Probation takes the reader on a journey through England and Wales exposing social disadvantage, unrest and increasingly London-centric policies. It records first-hand what life was like for those at the sharp end during an era of extensive progress, development and change.

The purpose of this manual is to increase the safety of building occupants and emergency responders by streamlining fire service interaction with building features and fire protection systems. The information in this manual will assist designers of buildings and fire protective systems to better understand the needs of the fire service when they are called upon to help.

The public sector continues to play a strategic role across the world. The last thirty years have seen major shifts in approaches to public sector management in many countries. There is also a fierce debate across academic disciplines about contemporary public administration/management: some advocate the use of more managerialist approaches; while others see managerialism as undermining democratic institutions. New roles have arisen, such as programme evaluation, management consulting, and reliance on NGOs and partnerships, which require new assessments. There is an intensified need for an analysis of contemporary public sector organisations, which are changing rapidly before our eyes.
It is thus time for an authoritative treatment of the major trends in public management, embracing both their intended and unintended consequences. This Handbook brings together leading international scholars to comment on key current issues. The individual chapters include broad overviews, in depth explorations of particular thematic areas and analyses of different theoretical perspectives such as political science, management, sociology and economics. The authors have space to develop their distinctive arguments. The editors provide an overall concluding chapter. The Handbook combines scholarly rigour, engaging writing and high policy relevance. It will be invaluable to advanced students, researchers and reflective public sector practitioners.

The institutional ethnographies collected in Under New Public Management explore how new managerial governance practices coordinate the work of people doing front-line work in public sectors such as health, education, social services, and international development, and people management in the private sector.

In these fields, organizations have increasingly adopted private-sector management techniques, such as standardized and quantitative measures of performance and an obsession with cost reductions and efficiency. These practices of "new public management" are changing the ways in which front-line workers engage with their clients, students, or patients.

Using research drawn from Canada, the United States, Australia, and Denmark, the contributors expose how standardized managerial requirements are created and applied, and how they affect the practicalities of working with people whose lives and experiences are complex and unique.

New Book to help you pass the Court Office Assistant exam This book was prepared by Angelo Tropea, former Borough Chief Clerk of the Civil Court in Kings County and author of dozens of civil service exam preparation books. He has 30 years experience in preparing candidates for exams - and 30 years of court experience Study with this valuable book - and prepare for success

Servant of the Crown takes the reader inside Whitehall to see how issues of the day were handled and policies formed as the author progressed to working alongside Home Secretaries and other senior politicians. Charting high profile events and everyday activities, it covers government's approaches towards political, strategic and operational situations, looking also at traditions of public service and freedom under the law. Centrally the book discusses the relationship between civil servants and ministers; also with judges, magistrates and criminal justice services across a 30-year time frame (from the late-1950s to the early-1990s). It includes an explanation of the author's understanding of a civil servant's duty as a servant of the Crown, historically and in a world where public services have become increasingly subject to political intervention. The book is illustrated by examples of the interaction between political and professional points of view, covering situations familiar to the police, courts and correctional services.Equally it will be of interest to students of government, especially those concerned with how policy is formulated in answer to the immediacy of political events or the continuum of knowledge and experiences of civil servants (whichever administration is in power). With a Foreword by the Rt Hon Sir John Chilcot, GCB.

The institutional ethnographies collected in Under New Public Management explore how new managerial governance practices coordinate the work of people doing front-line work in public sectors such as health, education, social services, and international development, and people management in the private sector.

In these fields, organizations have increasingly adopted private-sector management techniques, such as standardized and quantitative measures of performance and an obsession with cost reductions and efficiency. These practices of "new public management" are changing the ways in which front-line workers engage with their clients, students, or patients.

Using research drawn from Canada, the United States, Australia, and Denmark, the contributors expose how standardized managerial requirements are created and applied, and how they affect the practicalities of working with people whose lives and experiences are complex and unique.

Strategic Financial Planning for the Public Sector is one of a series of books entitled "Essential Skills for the Public Sector". It promotes the importance of strategic financial planning and how this can have a dramatic impact on financial monitoring and control, as well as assisting the organisation to achieve value for money. The areas covered include financial planning processes, risk analysis, resource management strategies, income generation and cost benefit analysis. The book is designed to give managers, particularly those responsible for financial decision making, ideas to maximise the use of their financial resources and meet the organisation's long term financial goals. There are worked examples and practical exercises which allow the theory to be put into practice, encouraging self-development and continuous improvement. The style is simple, easy to read, and accessible to staff at all levels within an organisation. It is an essential addition to a manager's toolkit of skills and knowledge.

Finance for Non-Financial Public Sector Managers is one of a series of books entitled "Essential Skills for the Public Sector". It is increasingly important for public sector managers to have an understanding of finance to perform their jobs and deliver value for money services. It explains the principles of finance as well as financial information such as income and expenditure accounts, balance sheets, cashflows and financial performance indicators. There are worked examples and practical exercises which allow the theory to be put into practice, encouraging self-development and continuous improvement. The style is simple, easy to read, and accessible to staff at all levels within an organisation. It is an essential addition to a manager's toolkit of skills and knowledge.

Marketing Public Sector Services is one of a series of books entitled "Essential Skills for the Public Sector". It sets out the fundamental principles of marketing and applies them to a public sector context. The content includes the marketing mix, how to develop a marketing plan, market research techniques and examples of how to implement a marketing strategy and plan. It is increasingly important that public sector services are customer focussed and effective marketing helps to achieve this. Whether or not the public service being delivered is in a competitive environment, managers should see marketing as a fundamental part of the management process. There are worked examples and practical exercises which allow the theory to be put into practice, encouraging self-development and continuous improvement. The style is simple, easy to read, and accessible to staff at all levels within an organisation. It is an essential addition to a manager's toolkit of skills and knowledge.

"Corporate reform" is not reform at all. Instead, it is the systematic destruction of the foundational American institution of public education. The primary motivation behind this destruction is greed. Public education in America is worth almost a trillion dollars a year. Whereas American public education is a democratic institution, its destruction is being choreographed by a few wealthy, well-positioned individuals and organizations. This book investigates and exposes the handful of people and institutions that are often working together to become the driving force behind destroying the community public school.

With chapters written by leading researchers and practitioners actively engaged in the work, this Edited Volume examines the role of the state education agency in school turnaround efforts. An emphasis is placed on practical application of research and best practice related to the State Education Agency's (SEA's) critical leadership role in driving and supporting successful school turnaround efforts. The Edited Volume is organized around the Center on School Turnaround's four objectives, with sections devoted to each: 1.Create a Pro-Turnaround Statutory and Regulatory Environment 2.Administer and Manage Turnaround Efforts Effectively 3.Provide Targeted and Timely Technical Assistance to Local Educational Agencies and Schools 4.Advocate and Lead to Build Support for Local Turnaround Efforts Chapters include: a) brief literature review, b) examples from SEAs (and/or concrete examples of proposed SEA practices), and c) action principles for the SEA.

This book is a fresh, 21st century look at today's law enforcement hiring process. It gives the reader an idea of what to expect through all phases of the selection process and why the agency is doing what it is doing. Selection techniques have changed over the years. Law enforcement agencies are much more sophisticated and selective because the stakes are so much higher than they have ever been. This book gets you from your first contact with your prospective employer to the last interview. This book provides you with the information you need to understand the process. If you understand the process, you can understand the culture. Moreover, it is a step by step guide to navigating what can be a mysterious and nerve wracking process. Armed with the information this book provides, you are miles ahead of your competition.

Costing and Pricing Public Sector Services is one of a series of books entitled "Essential Skills for the Public Sector". It sets out the process of identifying service costs, establishing unit costs, and cost control, all essential activities for ensuring value for money and accountability. It is an important text for all those working in the a public and not for profit environment as it takes private sector principles and translates them into practical tools that can be applied to public services. With increasing competition seen as a method to improve services and drive down costs, understanding the true cost of public services is important. This book also tackles many of the day to day problems that may be encountered when trying to develop unit costs for a public service entering a market led environment. There are worked examples and practical exercises which allow the theory to be put into practice, encouraging self-development and continuous improvement. The style is simple, easy to read, and accessible to staff at all levels within an organisation. It is an essential addition to a manager's toolkit of skills and knowledge.